Loose-leaf binder



j, H. KNlGHT.

LOGSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLmATloN man 11ov..21,1919.

1,372,960. Patented Mar. 29,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

5. H, Kmmn.

yLOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLlCATlDH `FILED MOV. 21., 1919-.

L 2. 92 1T :H 9H Lm WH Mw d2 m w a P v 7606765073 I .S/arm@ z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Application led November 2]., 1919. Serial No. 339,572.

To all ifi/tom t may concern Be it known that I, Jarras l'lAnMEn lNieirr, a citizen of the Unitedv States, residing at VVesttown, in the county of Chester' and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a loose leaf binder of an extremely simple and durable construction which will securely bind together a number of sheets of paper, cardboard or the like in book form and which will be easily operative to permit the insertion of additional leaves or the removal of leaves therefrom.

Another object is to so construct my iinproved loose leaf binder that by a simple manual movement it can be readily detached or placed in binding position.

A further object is to so design my invention that it can be quickly and easily made.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, .l attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view showing my invention in the position which it occupies when binding a number of sheets of paper or the like,

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l,

Figs.4 3 to 6 inclusive are diagrammatic views, partly in section, showing the steps of movement required to attach the parts of my improved binder,

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a flexible securing strip which forms a part of my inven tion,

Fig. 8 is a front edge view of the securing strip of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2,

F 10 is a view of similar nature to Fig. ,L

showing a slight modifi :ation lin the form of my invention,

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10, and

F ig.` 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the [iexible securing strip of Figs. 10 and l1 in a position. illustrating the function of limiting hoods during one step of the oper ation of attaching the flexible securing strip.

Referring to Figs. 1` to 9 inclusive, 16 represents a beek cover whichy may be of any `usual construction having a movable hinged top section .17 and a bottom section 18. The cover 1G is preferably made, intermediate the top and bottom sections, of flexible material, such as cloth and has an upper folded portion 19 and a lower folded portion 20. The lower folded portion 20 embraces a base plate 2l which has three posts 22, 23 and 24;. rlhese posts are arranged in a row longi tudinally of the base plate 21 and the post 23 is positioned between the posts 22 and 24` and is spaced from said latter posts as clearly shown in Figs. l. and 2.

The folded portion may be stitched as shown at 25 to retain the base plate 21 in position and the posts 22, 23 and 241: project upwardly through the upper part 26 of the .folded portion 20 to prevent lateral, movement between said folded portion and the base plate 21. Any number of sheets 27 of paper, cardboard or the like which are to be bound can" be placed upon the posts 22, 23 and 24; said sheets being provided with holes to permit the posts to penetrate them. The posts also pass through the. folded portion 19 and a clip 28 is attached to the folded portion 19 and provides a guideway .for a flexible securing strip 29. This securing strip 29, as shown in detail in Figs. 7 and S, is preferably made of spring steel and normally bowed upwardly at its ends, as shown in F 3 and S. The strip 29 is provided adjacent its ends with two holes 39 and 31 adapted to normally register with the posts -22 and 24, as shown in Fig. 3. The strip 29 is also provided with another hole 32 and this hole 32, when the holes 39 and 31 are in register with the respective posts 22 and 24, is out of register with the intermediate post 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. l

The posts 22 and 24 are provided with notches 33 and 34k resllieetivcly; said notches being of a height at their outermost portions `which slightly greater than the thickness of the securing strip 29. These notches 93 and. Ball; taper iiiwardly1 from the right hand sides of .the respective posts 22 and 24.- and it will be `noted that the hole 32, as shown in tho position :in Fig. 3, is located with its center to the right of the center of the pest lt will be noted that the clip 2S permits of a free sliding movement of the securing strip therethrough and merely serves to prevent the securing strip 29 from becem pass through the holes 3() and 31. curing strip 29 is then moved longitudinally ing entirely detached from the cover. 1 might further state that my invention is ap plicableY for binding a number of sheets together without any cover such as 16. For example even though the cover 16 is omitted the functioning ot' the securing strip 29, posts 22, 23 and 24 and base plate 21 will be the same.

Considering that a number of sheets 17 have been placed upon the posts 22, 23 and 24, the securing strip 29 is lirst moved into the position illustratedin Fig. 3 with the holes 30 and 31 respectively registering with the posts 22 and 24. rlhe intermediate portion of the securing strip 29 is moved into engagement with the top of the intermediate post 23 and the opposite ends of the securing strip 29 are moved downwardly by the fingers into the position shown in Fig. 4 so that the upper parts of the posts 22 and 24 rhe setoward the left and during this action parts of the securing strip to the right ofthe holes 30. and 31 will move into the respective notches 33 and 34 as shown in Fig. 5. This movement ot the securing strip 29 causes the hole 32 to move into register with the intermediate post 23 and when the ends of the securing strip 29 are manually released as shown inFig.`6, the resiliency of the securing strip 29. will cause it to move into its normally bowed position and since parts of 'theplate are held within the notches 33 and 34, the intermediate portion of the securing strip will automatically move downwardly so that the intermediate post 23 will penetrate the hole 32. Furthermore, owing to the normally bowed shape of the securing strip, the part adjacent the hole 32 will tend to move downwardly into aplane below the plane including the notches 33 and 34 and will thus firmly bind the sheets 27 together and in addition will prevent any rattling or accidental movement of the parts of the 4securing strip within the notches 33 and 34.

The above mentioned movements can be done very quickly. It is merely necessary to move the end portions of the securing strip downwardly and then longitudinally after which the central portion ot the securing strip will snap in position over the intermediate post 23.

In Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive, I have illustrated practically the same construction as above described in detail with the exception `that l have illustrated'hoods 35 and 36 which are struck up or in other words pressed upwardly and formed out of the same metal which constitutes the body portion of the securing strip 29. These hoods, during the initial movement of the ends of the strip, form a stop against the tops of the posts 22 and 24 so as to limit the downward movement of the end portions to prevent the securing plate adjacent its ends 'troni being pushed downward beloiY an alining position with the notches 33 and 34. This construction is of particular advantage when there are comparatively few sheets between the binder and facilitates the attachment. ln addition l have illustrated au intermediate plate 3T which has depending sleeves 3H attached thereto which penetrate the holes of the sheets ot pape' and also l'orm guides or sition if it is desired to remove a sheet or number ot sheets which are located between the top and the bottom of the p lr ol' sheets. Fig. l2 shows how the hoods l5 and 3b' 'function as above described. .ilse in Figs. lll to 12 inclusive l have shown the ends 25 ot the i securing strip bent downwardly so as to form a Comfortable grip 'l'or depressiug` the, end portions ot the. strip as above desrribml.

ylVhile .l have described my invention as taking' a particular i'orm. it will be understood that the various parts ot my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof. and hem-e l do not limit myself to the precise tamstrm-tirm set forth, but consider that l am at liberty lo malte such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the, appended claims.

Having thus described my invention. what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A binder of the character described including a base plate having notched posts and another post positioned between said notched posts; and a. securingstrip having holes adapted to normally register with said notched posts and another hole normally out of register with said second mentioned post, said strip heilig dopressible to causel said notched posts to initially penetrate said first holes and to bring portions o t said plate adjacent said first holes into alinement with the notches of said notched posts, said strip when movable longitudinally causing said portions to enter the notches of said lirst posts and the other hole to register with said second mentioned post whereby the latter will penetrate said strip: substantiallv as described.

2. A binder of the character described including a base plate having notched posts and another post positioned between said notched posts; and a securing strip having holes adapted to normally register with said notched posts and another hole normallv out of register with said second mentioned'post. said strip being depressible to cause said notched posts to initially penetrate saidlirst holes and to bring portions ot said plate adjacent said first holes into alinementlOtl lll)

lll() with the notches of said notched posts; said strip when movable longitudinally causing said portions to enter the notches of said lirst posts and the other hole to register| with said second mentioned post whereby the latter will penetrate said strip, said securing strip being bowed inwardly from the portions including said first holes to the por tion including said second mentioned hole;

substantially as described.

3. A binder of the character described including a base plate having notched posts and another post positioned between said notched posts; and a securing strip having holes adapted to normally register with said notched posts and another hole normally out of register with said second mentioned post, said strip being depressible to cause said notched posts to initially penetrate said first holes and to bring portions ot said plate adjacent said irst holes into alinement with the notches of said notched posts, said strip when movable longitudinally causing said portions to enter the notches of said first posts and the other hole to register with said second mentioned post whereby the latter will penetrate said strip, the notches of said notched posts tapering inwardly.

4;. A binder of the character described including a base plate having notched posts and another post positioned between said notched posts; a securing strip having holes adapted to normally re ister with said notched posts and another ole"normally out of register with said second mentioned post, said strip being depressible to cause said notched posts to initially penetrate said irst holes and to bring portions of said plate adjacent said irst holes into alinement with the notches of said notched posts, said strip when movable longitudinally causing said portions to enter the notches of said first posts and the other hole to register with said second mentioned post whereby the latter will penetrate said strip; and hoods eXtend ing over said first mentioned holes and adapted to limit the amount oi' penetration of said notched posts through said securing strip; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

JAM i1S HARMER KNIGHT.

Witnesses EVELYN CnoMr'roN, CHAs. E. Po'rrs. 

